Reconstruction of the Los Alamos Canyon Dam has begun, closing access to the area for all foot and vehicular traffic, according to the Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities.
The contractor, Kiewit, was given the Notice to Proceed, effective Monday. Dam reconstruction work will continue through the summer with completion slated for Nov. 15. For more information, see www.losalamosnm.us/projects/utilities/Pages/LACanyonDamRestore.aspx.

The Department of Game and Fish will conduct three public meetings in northeastern New Mexico this month to explain how landowners will be affected by new rules that change the way the state allocates private-land antelope licenses.
The State Game Commission adopted the new rules affecting the Antelope Private Lands Use System, or A-PLUS, at its December 2010 meeting in Clovis.
The rules were revised and adopted after consideration of Department recommendations, public comments during several commission meetings, more than 30 statewide public meetings, and hundreds of written public comments submitted over a period of more than two years.

Today
The Los Alamos High School NJROTC will have a brisket dinner from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Posse Shack on North Mesa. The price will be $10 and the menu includes brisket, corn, potato salad, roll, cookies and a drink.

The Los Alamos Arts Council will begin its 2011 Guitar Concert Series, Guitars at the Lodge, at Fuller Lodge at 7 p.m. Beverage and cookies available at 7 p.m., music begins at 7:15 p.m. Admission is $15 at the door for non-members, $10 for members.

March on Hunger
Aspen, Chamisa and Mountain Elementaries, along with Los Alamos Middle School, are collecting non-perishable items for people and collars and leashes for pets as a community project and a student service project combine their efforts.
To learn more about making donations call 661-4846. Donations are accepted at school locations through Friday.
The Los Alamos Monitor, KRSN, AM 1490 and the Betty Ehart Senior Center continue the March on Hunger through the end of the month.

Once again, the Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation’s annual Great Conversations dinner is coming to town. Join a group of tablemates and a speaker at 5:30 p.m. April 10 at the Betty Ehart Senior Center for an informative and fun conversation.
This is the sixth in a series of articles on the featured speakers. For a complete list of speakers, topics and to print a registration form, visit www.lapsfoundation.com. Tickets are $60 per person and include appetizers, a gourmet meal, wine, dessert and coffee. Registration is open now and is complete when payment is received.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — President Barack Obama has signed a disaster declaration for New Mexico after the state was left cleaning up damage resulting from days of extreme cold temperatures and a natural gas outage that affected thousands of customers.

The president's declaration of a major disaster in the state clears the way for federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in several counties and tribal jurisdictions.

WASHINGTON – Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman today announced the signing of an agreement to extend nuclear security cooperation between the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and the Federal Environmental, Industrial and Nuclear Supervision Service of Russia (Rostechnadzor) for an additional seven years
Speaking at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Washington, Deputy Secretary Poneman announced the agreement, which will allow NNSA to continue work with Rostechnadzor to enhance its nuclear security regulations and inspection and training capabilities.

KALISPELL, Mont. — The Montana Supreme Court has upheld a Workers’ Compensation Court ruling that about $65,000 in medical bills incurred by a man who was mauled while feeding the bears at a tourist attraction should be covered by workers’ compensation, despite the fact the man had smoked marijuana on the day of the attack.
The court filed its opinion Tuesday, the Daily Inter Lake reported.
Brock Hopkins filed a claim with the Uninsured Employers’ Fund in December 2007, saying he suffered injuries to his legs and buttocks when he was mauled by a bear at Great Bear Adventures near Glacier National Park on Nov. 2, 2007. Hopkins was treated for his injuries at a Kalispell hospital.